Christian Science Monitor Corrects Three Errors in Op-Ed

TheChristian Science Monitor (CSM)corrected three errors in their January 7 Op-Ed “Israel’s ‘self-defense’ argument against Hamas holds no water,” written by Jerome Slater and added an explanatory Editor’s note.

The Editor’s note at the end of the article reads:

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article, based on reporting from the Associated Press, incorrectly described Israel’s lifting of a 2007 ban on construction materials into Gaza. AP has issued a correction saying that the ban applied to materials for Gaza’s private sector. Since the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, Israel has allowed humanitarian-related construction materials and materials under UN auspices. Lifting the ban allows private business to ship materials to Gaza. Also, an earlier version incorrectly described Israeli embargo efforts at the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel does not control that border.

The corrections to the article are as follows:

1. Originally, the cutline for the photograph at the top of the article read:

Ban lifted: A truck loaded with building materials drives at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip Dec. 30. Israel had banned construction materials for Gaza after Hamas seized control there in 2007.

The corrected version reads:

Ban lifted: A truck loaded with building materials drives at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip Dec. 30. Israel had banned construction materials for Gaza’s private sector after Hamas seized control there in 2007.

It also adds this note:

[An earlier version of this caption was incorrect. See editor’s note at the bottom of this article.]

2. The first paragraph of the piece originally read:

As part of a November ceasefire agreement with Hamas, Israel has partially lifted its blockade of the Gaza Strip, at least allowing construction materials into the region pummeled by Israeli airstrikes. It’s a single, forward step that ends a five-year ban on such materials.

It now reads:

As part of a November ceasefire agreement with Hamas, Israel has partially lifted its blockade of the Gaza Strip, allowing private construction materials into the region pummeled by Israeli airstrikes. It’s a single, forward step that ends a five-year ban on such materials.

And also includes this note:

[An earlier version of this paragraph was incorrect. See editor’s note at the bottom of this article.]

3. Paragraph 9 used to read:

Among other measures, it has refused to allow Gaza a functioning airport, seaport, or commercial crossing on its border with Egypt, radically cutting Gazan trade and commerce with the outside world.

Now it reads:

Among other measures, it has refused to allow Gaza a functioning airport or seaport, radically cutting Gazan trade and commerce with the outside world. [An earlier version of this paragraph was incorrect. See editor’s note at the bottom of this article.]

The Associated Press (AP) correction referenced in the Editor’s note actually ran well before CSM posted this Op-Ed.

CSM also sent the revised version over to Yahoo News which had picked up the story.

CAMERA Author

Sarit CatzSarit Catz is CAMERA's International Letter-Writing Director. She oversees and facilitates letter-writing campaigns by members and writes about the media's coverage of the Middle East, including the popular "Where is the Coverage?" series on CAMERA's Snapshots blog. Catz regularly speaks to audiences about media bias and leads letter-writing workshops.